INTRODUCTION

Papaya (Carica papaya) is a tropical fruit having

commercial importance because of its high
nutritive and medicinal value. Papaya cultivation

had its origin in South Mexico and Costa Rica.

Total annual world production is estimated at 6
million tonnes of fruits. India leads the world in
papaya production with an annual output of
about 3 million tonnes. Other leading producers
are Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Indonesia, China,
Peru, Thailand and Philippines.

BACKGROUND
The area under papaya cultivation in India increased by 63% from 45.2 thousand ha. in 1991-92 to 73.7
thousand ha. in 2001-02 and the production increased from 8 lakh tones to 26 lakh tones.Papaya is mostly
cultivated in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala,
Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. (Vide Table-1)

State Area (‘000 Ha.) Production (‘000 Productivity

MT) (MT/Ha.)
Andhra Pradesh 11.7 1173.6 100.0
West Bengal 7.2 241.9 33.5
Karnataka 3.6 238.1 65.5
Orissa 10.7 217.5 20.3
Gujarat 4.4 175.1 39.4
Maharashtra 5.8 174.4 30.0
Assam 7.5 111.8 14.8
Kerala 13.2 59.7 4.5
Madhya Pradesh 0.8 70.2 90.0
Others 8.6 159.1 -
TOTAL 73.7 2620.4 35.54

OBJECTIVE
The main objective of this report is to present a bankable one acre model for high quality
commercial cultivation of the crop.POST HARVEST TECHNOLOGY :

Economic Importance
Fruit is a rich source of vitamin A and C. It has a high nutritive and medicinal value. Papain prepared
from dried latex of its immature fruits is used in meat tenderizing, manufacture of chewing gum,
cosmetics, for degumming natural silk and to give shrink resistance to wool. It is also used in
pharmaceutical industries, textile and garment cleaning paper and adhesive manufacture, sewage
disposal etc.

MARKET ANALYSIS AND STRATEGY

Demand and Supply patterns

Only 0.08% of domestic production is exported and the rest is consumed within the country. Delhi and
Mumbai are the two principal markets. Other major domestic markets are Jaipur, Bangalore Chennai,
Kolkata and Hyderabad. Arrivals are sizeable in the markets of Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna,
Raipur, Baraut and Jammu. The crop arrives in the market around the year in the major States viz. Andhra
Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa and West Bengal.

Export trends
India exports Papaya mainly to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E., Netherlands etc. The trend in
export of papaya from India during the period 1999-2000 to 2001-02 is given in Graph 3.

Table-2 : Country-wise export of papaya from India during 2001-02.

Country Quantity(Tonnes) Value (Rs. in lakhs)

Bahrain 125.17 19.23
Kuwait 148.98 22.37
Netherlands 90.00 10.42
Qatar 142.66 22.39
Saudi Arabia 737.32 107.04
U.A.E. 499.84 59.75
Others 231.90 45.69
Total 1975.87 286.89
Analysis and Future Strategy
The fruit being perishable in nature poses problem in marketing. Development of infrastructure facilities
for transport to primary markets, standardization of packaging techniques are aspects which need
special attention. Processing facilities also need to be created in the major producing states for value
addition.
:PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY Agro-climatic requirements
Papaya being a tropical fruit grows well in the mild sub-tropical regions of the country upto 1,000 m. above
sea level.
Night temperature below 120-140 C for several hours during winter season affects its growth and
production severely.It is very much sensitive to frost, strong winds and water stagnation.
Deep, well drained sandy loam soil is ideal for cultivation of papaya.

Growing and Potential Belts

The state-wise growing belts are given in the following :

State Growing belts

Andhra Pradesh Cuddapah, Medak, Kurnool, Rangareddy
Assam Nagaon, Darrang, Karbi Anglong
Gujarat Kheda, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar
Jharkhand Simdega, Ranchi, Lohardaga, Hazaribagh, Chatra
Karnataka Bellary, Bidar, Bangalore (R& U), Mandya, Shimoga,
Chitradurga, Mysore, Belgaum, Hassan
Maharashtra Sangli, Satara, Pune, Nasik, Sholapur, Nagpur, Amravati
Madhya Pradesh Dhar, Khandwa, Bilaspur, Ratlam, Guna, Vidisha
West Bengal North & South 24- Parganas, Hooghly, Nadia, Midnapur

Varieties Cultivated Important papaya varieties cultivated in different states of India are given below :

State Varieties grown

Andhra Pradesh - Honey Dew, Coorg Honey Dew, Washington, Solo, Co-
1,Co-2, Co-3, Sunrise Solo, Taiwan
Jharkhand - Ranchi selection, Honey Dew, Pusa Delicious & Pusa
Nanha
Karnataka & Kerala - Coorg Honey Dew, Coorg Green, Pusa Delicious & Pusa
Nanha
West Bengal - Ranchi selection, Honey Dew, Washington, Coorg Green
Orissa - Pusa Delicious, Pusa Nanha, Ranchi selection, Honey
Dew, Washington, Coorg Green

Land Preparation

A well-drained upland is selected for cultivation. In open and high lying areas plants are exposed to strong
winds or storm. Therefore, for proper establishment of papaya plantation, suitable wind break should be
planted at the orchard boundary.

Planting Material

Papaya is commercially propagated by seed and tissue culture plants. The seed rate is 250-300 g./ha. The
seedlings can be raised in nursery beds 3m. long, 1m. wide and 10 cm. high as well as in pots or polythene
bags. The seeds after being treated with 0.1% Monosan (phenyl mercuric acetate), ceresin etc. are sown 1
cm. deep in rows 10 cm. apart and covered with fine compost or leaf mould. Light irrigation is provided
during the morning hours. The nursery beds are covered with polythene sheets or dry paddy straw to protect
the seedlings. About 15-20 cm. tall seedlings are chosen for planting in about two months

Planting season
Papaya is planted during spring (February-March), monsoon (June-July) and autumn (October-November).

Spacing
A spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m. is normally followed. However higher density cultivation with spacing of 1.5 x
1.5 m./ha enhances the returns to the farmer and is recommended.

High Density Planting :

A closer spacing of 1.2 x 1.2 m. for cv. Pusha Nanha is adopted for high density planting,
accommodating 6,400 plants/ha.

Planting Method
The seedlings are planted in pits of 60x60x60 cm. size. In the summer months the pits are dug about a
fortnight before planting. The pits are filled with top soil along with 20 kg. of farmyard manure., 1 kg. neem
cake and 1 kg.bone meal. Tall and vigorous varieties are planted at greater spacing while medium and dwarf
ones at closer spacing.

Nutrition
Papaya plant needs heavy doses of manures and fertilizers. Apart from the basal dose of manures @ 10
kg./plant) applied in the pits, 200-250 g. each of N, P2O5 and K2O are recommended for getting
high yield. Application of 200 g. N is optimum for fruit yield but papain yield increases with increase
in Nupto 300 g.

Micronutrients
Micro-nutrients viz. ZnSO4 (0.5%) and H2 BO3 (0.1%) are sprayed in order to increase growth and yield
characters.

Irrigation
The irrigation schedule is fixed on the basis of soil type and weather conditions of the region. Protective
irrigation is provided in the first year of planting. During the second year, irrigation is provided at fortnight
interval in winter and at an interval of 10 days in summer. Basin system of irrigation is mostly followed.
In areas having low rainfall, sprinkler or drip system can be adopted.
Intercultural Operations
Deep hoeing is recommended during the first year to check weed growth. Weeding should be done on
regular basis especially around the plants. Application of Fluchloralin or Alachlorin or Butachlorine (2.0
g./ha.) as pre-emergence herbicide two months after transplanting can effectively control the weeds for a
period of four months. Earthing up is done before or after the onset of monsoon to avoid water-logging and
also to help the plants to stand erect.

Inter-cropping
Intercropping leguminous crops after non-leguminous ones, shallow rooted crops after deep rooted ones are
beneficial. No intercrops are taken after the onset of flowering stage.

Removal of male plants

About 10% of the male plants are kept in the orchards for good pollination where dioecious varieties are
cultivated. As soon as the plants flower, the extra male plants are uprooted.

Plant Protection Measures

Insect PestsThe insect pests mostly observed are fruit flies (Bactrocera cucurbitae), ak grasshopper
(Poekilocerus pictus), aphids (Aphis gossypii), red spider mite (Tetranychus cinnabarinus),stem borer
(Dasyses rugosellus) and grey weevil (Myllocerus viridans). In all cases the infected parts need to be
destroyed along with application of prophylactic sprays of Dimethoate (0.3%) or methyl demeton (0.05%).

Diseases
The main diseases reported are powdery mildew (Oidium caricae), anthracnose (Colletotrichum
gloeosporioides), damping off and stem rot. Application of wettable sulphur (1 g./l.) carbendazim/
thiophanate methyl (1 g./l.) and Kavach/Mancozeb (2 g./l.) has been found to be effective in controlling the
diseases

Harvesting and Yield

Fruits are harvested when they are of full size, light green in colour with tinge of yellow at apical end. On
ripening, fruits of certain varieties turn yellow while some of them remain green. When the latex ceases to
be milky and become watery, the fruits are suitable for harvesting.

The economic life of papaya plant is only 3 to 4 years. The yield varies widely according to variety, soil,
climate and management of the orchard. The yield of 75-100 tonnes /ha. is obtained in a season from a
papaya orchard depending on spacing and cultural practices.

POST HARVEST MANAGEMENT Grading

Fruits are graded on the basis of their weight, size and colour.

Storage
Fruits are highly perishable in nature. They can be stored for a period of 1-3 weeks at a temperature of
10-130 C and 85-90% relative humidity.

Packing
Bamboo baskets with banana leaves as lining material are used for carrying the produce fromfarm tolocal
market.

Transportation
Road transport by trucks/lorries is the most convenient mode of transport due to easy approachfrom orchards
to the market.

Marketing
The farmers usually dispose off their produce to the wholesalers and middlemen at the farm gate.
ECONOMICS OF A ONE ACRE MODEL

Sl. Component Proposed

No. Expenditure
1. Cultivation Expenses
(i) Cost of planting material 3400
(ii) Manures & fertilizers 6600
(iii) Insecticides & pesticides 500
(iv) Cost of Labour 8400
(v) Others, if any, (Power Charges) 3600
Total 22,500
2. Irrigation
(i) Tube-well/submersible pump 45000
(ii) Cost of Pipeline -
(iii) Others, if any -
Total 45,000
3. Cost of Drip/Irrigation including fertigation 25,000
4. Infrastructure
(i) Labour Shed 5000
(ii) Farm Implementation 3500
Total 8,500
5. Land Development
(i) Land leveling & layout 4000
(ii) Fencing 20000
Total 24,000
6. Land (if newly purchased)*
Grand Total 1,25,000
1) High quality commercial
cultivation of crop by using improved variety seedlings as planting material
and drip irrigation leads to multiple benefits viz.
2) Synchronized growth, flowering and harvesting;
3) Improved fruit quality;
4) Increases average productivity by more than 60%.
5) Economy and increased efficiency in use of irrigation water with drip irrigation.

Costs & Returns

A one acre plantation of the crop is a highly viable proposition. The cost components of such a model along
with the basis for costing are exhibited in Annexures I & II. A summary is given in the figure below. The
project cost works out to Rs. 1.25 lakhs.

Project Cost: (Unit – One Acre)

(Amount in Rs.)

*Cost of newly purchased land will be limited to one-tenth of the total project cost
The major components of the model are:

Land Development: (Rs.4.0 thousand): This is the labour cost of shaping anddressing the land site.

Fencing (Rs.20.0 thousand): It is necessary to guard the orchard by barbed wire fencing to safeguard the
valuable produce from animals and prevent poaching. This is part cost of fencing taken in first year.

Irrigation Infra-structure (Rs.45 thousand): For effective working with drip irrigation system, it is necessary
to install a bore well with diesel/electric pumpset and motor. This is part cost of tube-well.

Drip Irrigation & Fertigation System (Rs.25 thousand): This is average cost of one acre drip system for
papaya inclusive of the cost of fertigation equipment. The actual cost will vary depending on location, plant
population and plot geometry.

Equipment/Implements (Rs.3.5 thousand): For investment on improved manually operated essential

implements a provision of another Rs.3.5 thousand is included.

Building and Storage (Rs.5.0 thousand): A one acre orchard would require minimally a labour shed.

Labour cost has been put at an average of Rs.70 per man-day. The actual cost will vary from location to
location depending upon minimum wage levels or prevailing wage levels for skilled and unskilled labour.

Recurring Production Cost:

Recurring production costs are exhibited in Annexure III. The main components are planting material,
landpreparation, inputs application (FYM, fertilizers, micro-nutrients, plant protection chemicals etc.) and
labour cost on application of inputs, inter-cultural and other farm operations.
Besides, provision is included for power charges, protection of the plantation (cost of material for wind
protection and polythene bunch covers), labour for harvesting and packing/transportation charges for the
produce to the nearest secondary market.

Returns from the Project: The yield from the plantation is estimated at 30 tonnes (per acre) the 2nd year and
3rd Year 25 tonnes each .